Stephen Flynn branded Sir Keir Starmer a “Thatcherite” as he grilled Rishi Sunak during PMQs today.
The SNP Westminster leader’s comments come after the Labour leader sparked fury from some within his party for praising Margaret Thatcher in an article over the weekend.
Mr Flynn asked Mr Sunak: “Is the Prime Minister worried that he is projected to be the first Conservative Party leader to lose a general election to a fellow Thatcherite?”
The SNP politician’s question prompted a rowdy response in the Commons as MPs could be heard laughing and shouting.
Deputy Speaker Eleanor Laing was forced to intervene and call for quiet for the Prime Minister’s response.
She said: “We really must hear the Prime Minister and we’ve got a lot of questions to get through.”
The PM replied: “Margaret Thatcher’s view was cut inflation, then cut taxes and then win a general election and that’s very much my plan.”
It comes after the Labour leader praised Baroness Thatcher in an apparent bid to woo Tory voters.
In an article for the Sunday Telegraph, he named the ex-Conservative politician alongside former Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Clement Attlee.
Sir Keir said: “Every moment of meaningful change in modern British politics begins with the realisation that politics must act in service of the British people, rather than dictating to them.
“Margaret Thatcher sought to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism.”
But Sir Keir’s comments angered some on the left of the Labour Party.
Meanwhile, Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said the tribute was “an insult” to Scotland.
